Absorbent article with selectively positioned waist containment member having an improved waist seal

ABSTRACT

An absorbent article can include a chassis including an absorbent body. The chassis can include a body facing surface. The absorbent article can also include a waist containment member. The waist containment member can include a proximal portion coupled to the body facing surface of the chassis and a distal portion that includes a distal edge. The proximal portion includes proximal portion elastic members and the distal portion can include distal portion elastic members. The distal portion can be free to move with respect to the chassis when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

A primary function of personal care absorbent articles is to absorb andretain body exudates such as urine, fecal material, blood, and menseswith additional desired attributes including low leakage of the exudatesfrom the absorbent article and a dry feel to the wearer of the absorbentarticle. By preventing leakage of the exudates from the absorbentarticle, the absorbent article intends to prevent the body exudates fromsoiling or contaminating a wearer's or caregiver's clothing or otherarticles, such as bedding, that can come in contact with the wearer.

One common mode of failure is for exudates to leak out of the rear waistregion or the front waist region of an absorbent article. As oneexample, fecal material that is not absorbed or contained by theabsorbent article can move past the gaps between the absorbent articleand the wearer's skin in the rear waist region and soil or contaminatethe wearer's skin and clothing near their back. This may be more commonof an occurrence for semi-solid fecal material, such as low viscosityfecal material, which can be prevalent with younger children. Suchexudates can move around on the bodyside liner of an absorbent articleunder the influence of gravity, motion, and pressure by the wearer ofthe absorbent article. In such a circumstance, not only does thewearer's absorbent article need to be changed, but the wearer's clothingand/or bedding often also needs to be changed, resulting in additionalwork, expense, and stress for the caregiver.

Attempts have been made in the past to provide containment systems,especially on the bodyside liner or near the rear waist region to solvethe problems described above. One example is by providing a waistelastic member and not adhering to the bodyside liner a portion of thewaist containment member closest to the lateral axis of the absorbentarticle to the bodyside liner, such that the non-adhered portion of thewaist elastic member can provide a containment pocket for exudates. Oneexample of this configuration is a HUGGIES® Little Snugglers diaper.Although absorbent articles with such containment members intend toprevent leakage of exudates and have functioned adequately, failures canstill occur.

One such problem relates to the waist elastic tension of the waistbandarea. In some designs, the tensioning automatically causes the fastenersto be pulled in towards the longitudinal centerline of the product whichin turn makes it more difficult to lay the diaper in an open, flatconfiguration for donning purposes. A second problem is that somedesigns may pose an aesthetic fault when viewing the back of theabsorbent article when being worn. The waist region will not haveelasticity high enough up the back of the product, allowing the backedge to pull away from the user's skin resulting in the formation of agap. This action may make the product appear too lose, when in reality,it is not.

Thus, there is a desire for improvements to containment systems andcontainment members of absorbent articles to prevent leakage ofexudates, especially in the waist regions of the absorbent article.There is also a desire for improvements in containment systems to haveincreased void volumes to hold body exudates until the absorbent articlecan be changed.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one embodiment absorbent article can include a front waist regionincluding a front waist edge, a rear waist region including a rear waistedge with a crotch region disposed intermediate the front waist edge andthe rear waist edge. The absorbent article defines a longitudinal axis,a lateral axis located midway between the front waist edge and the rearwaist edge and a vertical axis. The absorbent article has a chassisincluding an absorbent body with the chassis including a body facingsurface. The absorbent article has a waist containment member disposedon the body facing surface of the chassis with the waist containmentmember comprising a waist containment material having a firstlongitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge, a first endedge and a second end edge. The waist containment member has a proximalportion with a proximal edge and including a proximal portion elasticmember with the proximal portion being coupled to the body facingsurface of the chassis adjacent the front waist edge or the rear waistedge. The waist containment member also has a distal portion with adistal edge and the waist containment material has a first foldextending in the direction of the lateral axis. The first fold is closerthan the proximal portion elastic member to the respective front waistedge or rear waist edge to which the proximal portion is more closelycoupled when the absorbent article is in a stretched, laid flatconfiguration. The distal edge is closer to lateral axis than the firstfold and the distal portion is free to move with respect to the chassiswhen the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration so as to form apocket with the chassis.

In an alternate embodiment, an absorbent article includes a front waistregion including a front waist edge, a rear waist region including arear waist edge with a crotch region disposed intermediate the frontwaist edge and the rear waist edge. The absorbent article defines alongitudinal axis, a lateral axis located midway between the front waistedge and the rear waist edge and a vertical axis. The absorbent articlehas a chassis including an absorbent body with the chassis including abody facing surface. A waist containment member is disposed on the bodyfacing surface of the chassis with the waist containment member having afirst longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge, afirst end edge and a second end edge. The waist containment member has aproximal portion with a proximal edge defining a proximal portionlateral width between the first longitudinal side edge and the secondlongitudinal side edge in the proximal portion. The waist containmentmember includes a proximal portion elastic member with the proximalportion being coupled to the body facing surface of the chassis adjacentthe front waist edge or the rear waist edge. The waist containmentmember has a distal portion with a distal edge defining a distal portionlateral width between the first longitudinal side edge and the secondlongitudinal side edge in the distal portion. The proximal portionlateral width is equal to or greater than the distal portion lateralwidth when the absorbent article is in a stretched, laid flatconfiguration. Further, the distal edge is free to move with respect tothe chassis when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration soas to form a pocket with the chassis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure thereof, directed to one of ordinaryskill in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of thespecification, which makes reference to the appended figures in which:

FIG. 1 is side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of anabsorbent article, such as a diaper, in a fastened condition.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the absorbent article of FIG. 1 in astretched, laid flat, unfastened condition.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 from FIG. 2, butwith the waist containment member being shown in a relaxedconfiguration.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4from FIG. 2, with the absorbent article being in a relaxedconfiguration.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a torso of a wearer.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a torso of FIG. 5, with a cross-sectiontaken at the waistline.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the torso of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8A is a profile of the back region of the torso of FIG. 5 viewedfrom a top plan view, with the profile being taken at the waistline asshown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8B is a profile of the back region of the torso of FIG. 5 viewedfrom a top plan view, with the profile being taken 25 millimeters belowthe waistline.

FIG. 8C is a profile of the back region of the torso of FIG. 5 viewedfrom a top plan view, with the profile being taken 50 millimeters belowthe waistline.

FIG. 8D is a profile of the back region of the torso of FIG. 5 viewedfrom a top plan view, with the profile being taken 75 millimeters belowthe waistline.

FIG. 9 is a graph depicting the distance from waistline vs. depth ofgluteal depression values from Table 1.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of anabsorbent article, such as a pant.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the absorbent article of FIG. 10 in astretched, laid flat condition.

Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification anddrawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features orelements of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

In an embodiment, the present disclosure is generally directed towardsan absorbent article having a waist containment member. Each example isprovided by way of explanation and is not meant as a limitation. Forexample, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment orfigure can be used on another embodiment or figure to yield yet anotherembodiment. It is intended that the present disclosure include suchmodifications and variations.

When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the preferredembodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” areintended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms“comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive andmean that there may be additional elements other than the listedelements. Many modifications and variations of the present disclosurecan be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.Therefore, the exemplary embodiments described above should not be usedto limit the scope of the invention.

Definitions

The term “absorbent article” refers herein to an article which may beplaced against or in proximity to the body (i.e., contiguous with thebody) of the wearer to absorb and contain various liquid, solid, andsemi-solid exudates discharged from the body. Such absorbent articles,as described herein, are intended to be discarded after a limited periodof use instead of being laundered or otherwise restored for reuse. It isto be understood that the present disclosure is applicable to variousdisposable absorbent articles, including, but not limited to, diapers,diaper pants, training pants, youth pants, swim pants, feminine hygieneproducts, including, but not limited to, menstrual pads or pants,incontinence products, medical garments, surgical pads and bandages,other personal care or health care garments, and the like withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure.

The term “acquisition layer” refers herein to a layer capable ofaccepting and temporarily holding liquid body exudates to decelerate anddiffuse a surge or gush of the liquid body exudates and to subsequentlyrelease the liquid body exudates therefrom into another layer or layersof the absorbent article.

The term “bonded”, “attached” or “coupled” refers herein to the joining,adhering, connecting, attaching, or the like, of two elements. Twoelements will be considered bonded, attached or coupled together whenthey are joined, adhered, connected, attached, or the like, directly toone another or indirectly to one another, such as when each is directlybonded to intermediate elements. The bonding, attaching or coupling ofone element to another can occur via continuous or intermittent bonds.

The term “carded web” refers herein to a web containing natural orsynthetic staple length fibers typically having fiber lengths less thanabout 100 mm. Bales of staple fibers can undergo an opening process toseparate the fibers which are then sent to a carding process whichseparates and combs the fibers to align them in the machine directionafter which the fibers are deposited onto a moving wire for furtherprocessing. Such webs are usually subjected to some type of bondingprocess such as thermal bonding using heat and/or pressure. In additionto or in lieu thereof, the fibers may be subject to adhesive processesto bind the fibers together such as by the use of powder adhesives. Thecarded web may be subjected to fluid entangling, such ashydroentangling, to further intertwine the fibers and thereby improvethe integrity of the carded web. Carded webs, due to the fiber alignmentin the machine direction, once bonded, will typically have more machinedirection strength than cross machine direction strength.

The term “film” refers herein to a thermoplastic film made using anextrusion and/or forming process, such as a cast film or blown filmextrusion process. The term includes apertured films, slit films, andother porous films which constitute liquid transfer films, as well asfilms which do not transfer liquids, such as, but not limited to,barrier films, filled films, breathable films, and oriented films.

The term “gsm” refers herein to grams per square meter.

The term “hydrophilic” refers herein to fibers or the surfaces of fiberswhich are wetted by aqueous liquids in contact with the fibers. Thedegree of wetting of the materials can, in turn, be described in termsof the contact angles and the surface tensions of the liquids andmaterials involved. Equipment and techniques suitable for measuring thewettability of particular fiber materials or blends of fiber materialscan be provided by Cahn SFA-222 Surface Force Analyzer System, or asubstantially equivalent system. When measured with this system, fibershaving contact angles less than 90 are designated “wettable” orhydrophilic, and fibers having contact angles greater than 90 aredesignated “nonwettable” or hydrophobic.

The term “liquid impermeable” refers herein to a layer or multi-layerlaminate in which liquid body exudates, such as urine, will not passthrough the layer or laminate, under ordinary use conditions, in adirection generally perpendicular to the plane of the layer or laminateat the point of liquid contact.

The term “liquid permeable” refers herein to any material that is notliquid impermeable.

The term “meltblown” refers herein to fibers formed by extruding amolten thermoplastic material through a plurality of fine, usuallycircular, die capillaries as molten threads or filaments into converginghigh velocity heated gas (e.g., air) streams which attenuate thefilaments of molten thermoplastic material to reduce their diameter,which can be a microfiber diameter. Thereafter, the meltblown fibers arecarried by the high velocity gas stream and are deposited on acollecting surface to form a web of randomly dispersed meltblown fibers.Such a process is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,241 toButin et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. Meltblownfibers are microfibers which may be continuous or discontinuous, aregenerally smaller than about 0.6 denier, and may be tacky andself-bonding when deposited onto a collecting surface.

The term “nonwoven” refers herein to materials and webs of materialwhich are formed without the aid of a textile weaving or knittingprocess. The materials and webs of materials can have a structure ofindividual fibers, filaments, or threads (collectively referred to as“fibers”) which can be interlaid, but not in an identifiable manner asin a knitted fabric. Nonwoven materials or webs can be formed from manyprocesses such as, but not limited to, meltblowing processes,spunbonding processes, carded web processes, hydroentangling processes,etc.

The term “pliable” refers herein to materials which are compliant andwhich will readily conform to the general shape and contours of thewearer's body.

The term “spunbond” refers herein to small diameter fibers which areformed by extruding molten thermoplastic material as filaments from aplurality of fine capillaries of a spinnerette having a circular orother configuration, with the diameter of the extruded filaments thenbeing rapidly reduced by a conventional process such as, for example,eductive drawing, and processes that are described in U.S. Pat. No.4,340,563 to Appel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,692,618 to Dorschner et al.,U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,817 to Matsuki et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,338,992 and3,341,394 to Kinney, U.S. Pat. No. 3,502,763 to Hartmann, U.S. Pat. No.3,502,538 to Peterson, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,542,615 to Dobo et al., eachof which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Spunbondfibers are generally continuous and often have average deniers largerthan about 0.3, and in an embodiment, between about 0.6, 5 and 10 andabout 15, 20 and 40. Spunbond fibers are generally not tacky when theyare deposited on a collecting surface.

The term “superabsorbent” refers herein to a water-swellable,water-insoluble organic or inorganic material capable, under the mostfavorable conditions, of absorbing at least about 15 times its weightand, in an embodiment, at least about 30 times its weight, in an aqueoussolution containing 0.9 weight percent sodium chloride. Thesuperabsorbent materials can be natural, synthetic and modified naturalpolymers and materials. In addition, the superabsorbent materials can beinorganic materials, such as silica gels, or organic compounds, such ascross-linked polymers.

The term “thermoplastic” refers herein to a material which softens andwhich can be shaped when exposed to heat and which substantially returnsto a non-softened condition when cooled.

The term “user” or “caregiver” refers herein to one who fits anabsorbent article, such as, but not limited to, a diaper, diaper pant,training pant, youth pant, incontinent product, or other absorbentarticle about the wearer of one of these absorbent articles. A user anda wearer can be one and the same person.

Absorbent Article:

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a non-limiting illustration of an absorbentarticle 10 for example, a diaper, is illustrated. Other embodiments ofthe absorbent article could include training pants, youth pants, adultincontinence garments, and feminine hygiene articles. While theembodiments and illustrations described herein may generally apply toabsorbent articles manufactured in the product longitudinal direction,which is hereinafter called the machine direction manufacturing of aproduct, it should be noted that one of ordinary skill in the art couldapply the information herein to absorbent articles manufactured in thelatitudinal direction of the product, which hereinafter is called thecross direction manufacturing of a product, without departing from thespirit and scope of the disclosure. For example, the absorbent article310 in FIGS. 10 and 11 provides an exemplary embodiment of an absorbentarticle 310 that can be manufactured in cross-direction manufacturingprocess.

The absorbent article 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the absorbentarticle 310 illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 can each include a chassis11. The absorbent article 10, 310 can include a front waist region 12, arear waist region 14, and a crotch region 16 disposed between the frontwaist region 12 and the rear waist region 14 and interconnecting thefront and rear waist regions, 12, 14, respectively. The front waistregion 12 can be referred to as the front end region, the rear waistregion 14 can be referred to as the rear end region, and the crotchregion 16 can be referred to as the intermediate region. In theembodiment depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11, a three-piece construction of anabsorbent article 310 is depicted where the absorbent article 310 canhave a chassis 11 including a front waist panel 13 defining the frontwaist region 12, a rear waist panel 15 defining the rear waist region14, and an absorbent panel 17 defining the crotch region 16 of theabsorbent article 310. The absorbent panel 17 can extend between thefront waist panel 13 and the rear waist panel 15. In some embodiments,the absorbent panel 17 can overlap the front waist panel 13 and the rearwaist panel 15. The absorbent panel 17 can be bonded to the front waistpanel 13 and the rear waist panel 15 to define a three-piececonstruction. However, it is contemplated that an absorbent article canbe manufactured in a cross-direction without being a three-piececonstruction garment which is also sometimes referred to as a one-piececonstruction (not shown) as the front waist panel 13 and the rear waistpanel 15 are integral with one another by way of commonly connectedcomponents forming the waist panel such as a bodyside liner and/or anoutercover which can envelope the absorbent panel 17 or simply cover thegarment side of the absorbent panel 17.

The absorbent article 10, 310 can have a pair of longitudinal side edges18, 20, and a pair of opposite waist edges, respectively designatedfront waist edge 22 and rear waist edge 24. The front waist region 12can be contiguous with the front waist edge 22 and the rear waist region14 can be contiguous with the rear waist edge 24. The longitudinal sideedges 18, 20 can extend from the front waist edge 22 to the rear waistedge 24. The longitudinal side edges 18, 20 can extend in a directionparallel to the longitudinal direction 30 for their entire length, suchas for the absorbent articles 10 illustrated in FIG. 2. In otherembodiments, the longitudinal side edges 18, 20 can be curved betweenthe front waist edge 22 and the rear waist edge 24. In the absorbentarticle 310 of FIGS. 10 and 11, the longitudinal side edges 18, 20 caninclude portions of the front waist panel 13, the absorbent panel 17,and the rear waist panel 15.

The front waist region 12 can include the portion of the absorbentarticle 10, 310 that, when worn, is positioned at least in part on thefront of the wearer while the rear waist region 14 can include theportion of the absorbent article 10, 310 that, when worn, is positionedat least in part on the back of the wearer. The crotch region 16 of theabsorbent article 10, 310 can include the portion of the absorbentarticle 10, 310 that, when worn, is positioned between the legs of thewearer and can partially cover the lower torso of the wearer. The waistedges, 22 and 24, of the absorbent article 10, 310 are configured toencircle the waist of the wearer and together define a central waistopening 23 (as labeled in FIG. 1 and FIG. 10) for the waist of thewearer. Portions of the longitudinal side edges 18, 20 in the crotchregion 16 can generally define leg openings for the legs of the wearerwhen the absorbent article 10, 310 is worn.

The absorbent article 10, 310 can include an outer cover 26 and abodyside liner 28. The outer cover 26 and the bodyside liner 28 can forma portion of the chassis 11. In an embodiment, the bodyside liner 28 canbe bonded to the outer cover 26 in a superposed relation by any suitablemeans such as, but not limited to, adhesives, ultrasonic bonds, thermalbonds, pressure bonds, or other conventional techniques. As an example,FIG. 3 depicts the bodyside liner 28 bonded to the outer cover 26 withadhesive 27. The outer cover 26 can define a length in a longitudinaldirection 30, and a width in the lateral direction 32, which, in theillustrated embodiment, can coincide with the length and width of theabsorbent article 10. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 11, the absorbentarticle 10, 310 can have a longitudinal axis 29 extending in thelongitudinal direction 30, and a lateral axis 31 extending in thelateral direction 32. The lateral axis 31 is located midway between thefront waist edge 22 and the rear waist edge 24. As shown in FIGS. 3 and4, the absorbent article 10 also has a vertical or z-direction axis 100ending in the vertical direction 33.

The chassis 11 can include an absorbent body 34. The absorbent body 34can be disposed between the outer cover 26 and the bodyside liner 28.The absorbent body 34 can have longitudinal edges, 36 and 38, which, inan embodiment, can form portions of the longitudinal side edges, 18 and20, respectively, of the absorbent article 10, 310. The absorbent body34 can have a first end edge 40 that is opposite a second end edge 42,respectively, which, in an embodiment, can form portions of the waistedges, 22 and 24, respectively, of the absorbent article 10. In someembodiments, the first end edge 40 can be in the front waist region 12.In some embodiments, the second end edge 42 can be in the rear waistregion 14. In an embodiment, the absorbent body 34 can have a length andwidth that are the same as or less than the length and width of theabsorbent article 10, 310. The bodyside liner 28, the outer cover 26,and the absorbent body 34 can form part of an absorbent assembly 44. Inthe absorbent article 310 of FIGS. 10 and 11, the absorbent panel 17 canform the absorbent assembly 44. The absorbent assembly 44 can alsoinclude a fluid transfer layer 46 (as shown in FIG. 4) and a fluidacquisition layer (not shown) between the bodyside liner 28 and thefluid transfer layer 46 as is known in the art. The absorbent assembly44 can also include a spacer layer 48 (as shown in FIG. 4) disposedbetween the absorbent body 34 and the outer cover 26.

The absorbent article 10, 310 can be configured to contain and/or absorbliquid, solid, and semi-solid body exudates discharged from the wearer.In some embodiments, containment flaps 50, 52 can be configured toprovide a barrier to the lateral flow of body exudates. To furtherenhance containment and/or absorption of body exudates, the absorbentarticle 10, 310 can suitably include a waist containment member 54. Insome embodiments, the waist containment member 54 can be disposed in therear waist region 14 of the absorbent article 10, 310. Although notdepicted herein, it is contemplated that the waist containment member 54can be additionally or alternatively disposed in the front waist region12 of the absorbent article 10, 310.

The waist containment member 54 can be disposed on the body facingsurface 19 of the chassis 11 to help contain and/or absorb bodyexudates. In some embodiments, such as in the absorbent article 10depicted in FIGS. 2 and 4, the waist containment member 54 can bedisposed on the body facing surface 45 of the absorbent assembly 44. Insome embodiments, the waist containment member 54 can be disposed on thebody facing surface 56 of the bodyside liner 28. In some embodiments,such as in the absorbent article 310 depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11, thewaist containment member 54 can be disposed on the body facing surface58 of the rear waist panel 15.

The absorbent article 10, 310 can further include leg elastic members60, 62 as are known to those skilled in the art. The leg elastic members60, 62 can be attached to the outer cover 26 and/or the bodyside liner28 along the opposite longitudinal side edges, 18 and 20, and positionedin the crotch region 16 of the absorbent article 10, 310. The legelastic members 60, 62 can be parallel to the longitudinal axis 29 asshown in FIGS. 2 and 11 or can be curved as is known in the art. The legelastic members 60, 62 can provide elasticized leg cuffs.

Additional details regarding each of these elements of the absorbentarticle 10, 310 described herein can be found below and with referenceto the FIGS. 1-11.

Outer Cover:

The outer cover 26 and/or portions thereof can be breathable and/orliquid impermeable. The outer cover 26 and/or portions thereof can beelastic, stretchable, or non-stretchable. The outer cover 26 may beconstructed of a single layer, multiple layers, laminates, spunbondfabrics, films, meltblown fabrics, elastic netting, microporous webs,bonded-carded webs or foams provided by elastomeric or polymericmaterials. In an embodiment, for example, the outer cover 26 can beconstructed of a microporous polymeric film, such as polyethylene orpolypropylene.

In an embodiment, the outer cover 26 can be a single layer of a liquidimpermeable material, such as a polymeric film. In an embodiment, theouter cover 26 can be suitably stretchable, and more suitably elastic,in at least the lateral direction 32 of the absorbent article 10, 310.In an embodiment, the outer cover 26 can be stretchable, and moresuitably elastic, in both the lateral 32 and the longitudinal 30directions. In an embodiment, the outer cover 26 can be a multi-layeredlaminate in which at least one of the layers is liquid impermeable. Insome embodiments, the outer cover 26 can be a two layer construction,including an outer layer (not shown) and an inner layer (not shown)which can be bonded together such as by a laminate adhesive. Suitablelaminate adhesives can be applied continuously or intermittently asbeads, a spray, parallel swirls, or the like, but it is to be understoodthat the inner layer can be bonded to the outer layer by other bondingmethods, including, but not limited to, ultrasonic bonds, thermal bonds,pressure bonds, or the like.

The outer layer of the outer cover 26 can be any suitable material andmay be one that provides a generally cloth-like texture or appearance tothe wearer. An example of such material can be a 100% polypropylenebonded-carded web with a diamond bond pattern available from Sandler A.G., Germany, such as 30 gsm Sawabond 4185® or equivalent. Anotherexample of material suitable for use as an outer layer of an outer cover26 can be a 20 gsm spunbond polypropylene non-woven web. The outer layermay also be constructed of the same materials from which the bodysideliner 28 can be constructed as described herein.

The liquid impermeable inner layer of the outer cover 26 (or the liquidimpermeable outer cover 26 where the outer cover 26 is of a single-layerconstruction) can be either vapor permeable (i.e., “breathable”) orvapor impermeable. The liquid impermeable inner layer (or the liquidimpermeable outer cover 26 where the outer cover 26 is of a single-layerconstruction) can be manufactured from a thin plastic film. The liquidimpermeable inner layer (or the liquid impermeable outer cover 26 wherethe outer cover 26 is of a single-layer construction) can inhibit liquidbody exudates from leaking out of the absorbent article 10, 310 andwetting articles, such as bed sheets and clothing, as well as the wearerand caregiver.

In some embodiments, where the outer cover 26 is of a single layerconstruction, it can be embossed and/or matte finished to provide a morecloth-like texture or appearance. The outer cover 26 can permit vaporsto escape from the absorbent article 10 while preventing liquids frompassing through. A suitable liquid impermeable, vapor permeable materialcan be composed of a microporous polymer film or a non-woven materialwhich has been coated or otherwise treated to impart a desired level ofliquid impermeability.

Absorbent Body:

The absorbent body 34 can be suitably constructed to be generallycompressible, conformable, pliable, non-irritating to the wearer's skinand capable of absorbing and retaining liquid body exudates. Theabsorbent body 34 can be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes andshapes (for example, rectangular, trapezoidal, T-shape, I-shape,hourglass shape, etc.) and from a wide variety of materials. The sizeand the absorbent capacity of the absorbent body 34 should be compatiblewith the size of the intended wearer (infants to adults) and the liquidloading imparted by the intended use of the absorbent article 10, 310.The absorbent body 34 can have a length and width that can be less thanor equal to the length and width of the absorbent article 10, 310.

In an embodiment, the absorbent body 34 can be composed of a webmaterial of hydrophilic fibers, cellulosic fibers (e.g., wood pulpfibers), natural fibers, synthetic fibers, woven or nonwoven sheets,scrim netting or other stabilizing structures, superabsorbent material,binder materials, surfactants, selected hydrophobic and hydrophilicmaterials, pigments, lotions, odor control agents or the like, as wellas combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the absorbent body 34 can bea matrix of cellulosic fluff and superabsorbent material. In anembodiment, the absorbent body 34 may be constructed of a single layerof materials, or in the alternative, may be constructed of two or morelayers of materials.

Various types of wettable, hydrophilic fibers can be used in theabsorbent body 34. Examples of suitable fibers include natural fibers,cellulosic fibers, synthetic fibers composed of cellulose or cellulosederivatives, such as rayon fibers; inorganic fibers composed of aninherently wettable material, such as glass fibers; synthetic fibersmade from inherently wettable thermoplastic polymers, such as particularpolyester or polyamide fibers, or composed of nonwettable thermoplasticpolymers, such as polyolefin fibers which have been hydrophilized bysuitable means. The fibers may be hydrophilized, for example, bytreatment with a surfactant, treatment with silica, treatment with amaterial which has a suitable hydrophilic moiety and is not readilyremoved from the fiber, or by sheathing the nonwettable, hydrophobicfiber with a hydrophilic polymer during or after formation of the fiber.Suitable superabsorbent materials can be selected from natural,synthetic, and modified natural polymers and materials. Thesuperabsorbent materials can be inorganic materials, such as silicagels, or organic compounds, such as cross-linked polymers. In anembodiment, the absorbent body 34 can be free of superabsorbent materialor in an alternate embodiment be comprised entirely of superabsorbentmaterial.

If a spacer layer 48 is present, the absorbent body 34 can be disposedon the spacer layer 48 and superposed over the outer cover 26. Thespacer layer 48 can be bonded to the outer cover 26, for example, byadhesive. In some embodiments, a spacer layer 48 may not be present andthe absorbent body 34 can directly contact the outer cover 26 and can bedirectly bonded to the outer cover 26. However, it is to be understoodthat the absorbent body 34 may be in contact with, and not bonded with,the outer cover 26 and remain within the scope of this disclosure. In anembodiment, the outer cover 26 can be composed of a single layer and theabsorbent body 34 can be in contact with the singer layer of the outercover 26. In some embodiments, at least a portion of a layer, such asbut not limited to, a fluid transfer layer 46 and/or a spacer layer 48,can be positioned between the absorbent body 34 and the outer cover 26,such as illustrated in FIG. 4. The absorbent body 34 can be bonded tothe fluid transfer layer 46 and/or the spacer layer 48. Typically theabsorbent body 34 will be completely enveloped by a core wrap materialsuch as a tissue wrap or a nonwoven material such a meltblown web, aspunbond web or both.

Bodyside Liner:

The bodyside liner 28 of the absorbent article 10, 310 can overlay theabsorbent body 34 and the outer cover 26 and can isolate the wearer'sskin from liquid waste retained by the absorbent body 34. In variousembodiments, a fluid transfer layer 46 can be positioned between thebodyside liner 28 and the absorbent body 34. In various embodiments, anacquisition layer (not shown) can be positioned between the bodysideliner 28 and the absorbent body 34 or a fluid transfer layer 46, ifpresent. In various embodiments, the bodyside liner 28 can be bonded tothe acquisition layer, or to the fluid transfer layer 46 if noacquisition layer is present, via adhesive and/or by a point fusionbonding. The point fusion bonding may be selected from ultrasonic,thermal, pressure bonding, and combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the bodyside liner 28 can extend beyond the absorbentbody 34 and/or a fluid transfer layer 46, if present, and/or anacquisition layer, if present, and/or a spacer layer 48, if present, tooverlay a portion of the outer cover 26 and can be bonded thereto by anymethod deemed suitable, such as, for example, by being bonded thereto byadhesive, to substantially enclose the absorbent body 34 between theouter cover 26 and the bodyside liner 28. It is contemplated that thebodyside liner 28 may be narrower than the outer cover 26. However, inother embodiments, the bodyside liner 28 and the outer cover 26 may beof the same dimensions in width and length, for example, as depicted inthe embodiments illustrated in FIG. 1. In other embodiments, thebodyside liner 28 can be of greater width than the outer cover 26. It isalso contemplated that the bodyside liner 28 may not extend beyond theabsorbent body 34 and/or may not be secured to the outer cover 26. Insome embodiments, the bodyside liner 28 can wrap at least a portion ofthe absorbent body 34, including wrapping around both longitudinal edges36, 38 of the absorbent body 34, and/or one or more of the end edges 40,42. It is further contemplated that the bodyside liner 28 may becomposed of more than one segment of material. The bodyside liner 28 canbe of different shapes, including rectangular, hourglass, or any othershape. The bodyside liner 28 can be suitably compliant, soft feeling,and non-irritating to the wearer's skin and can be the same as or lesshydrophilic than the absorbent body 34 to permit body exudates toreadily penetrate through to the absorbent body 34 and provide arelatively dry surface to the wearer.

The bodyside liner 28 can be manufactured from a wide selection ofmaterials, such as synthetic fibers (for example, polyester orpolypropylene fibers), natural fibers (for example, wood or cottonfibers), a combination of natural and synthetic fibers, porous foams,reticulated foams, apertured plastic films, or the like. Examples ofsuitable materials include, but are not limited to, rayon, wood, cotton,polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, or other heat-bondablefibers, polyolefins, such as, but not limited to, copolymers ofpolypropylene and polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, andaliphatic esters such as polylactic acid, finely perforated film webs,net materials, and the like, as well as combinations thereof.

Various woven and non-woven fabrics can be used for the bodyside liner28. The bodyside liner 28 can include a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric,a polymer film, a film-fabric laminate or the like, as well ascombinations thereof. Examples of a nonwoven fabric can include spunbondfabric, meltblown fabric, coform fabric, carded web, bonded-carded web,bicomponent spunbond fabric, spunlace, or the like, as well ascombinations thereof. The bodyside liner 28 need not be a unitary layerstructure, and thus, can include more than one layer of fabrics, films,and/or webs, as well as combinations thereof. For example, the bodysideliner 28 can include a support layer and a projection layer that can behydroentagled. The projection layer can include hollow projections, suchas those disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2014/0121623 to Kirby et al.

For example, the bodyside liner 28 can be composed of a meltblown orspunbond web of polyolefin fibers. Alternatively, the bodyside liner 28can be a bonded-carded web composed of natural and/or synthetic fibers.The bodyside liner 28 can be composed of a substantially hydrophobicmaterial, and the hydrophobic material can, optionally, be treated witha surfactant or otherwise processed to impart a desired level ofwettability and hydrophilicity. The surfactant can be applied by anyconventional means, such as spraying, printing, brush coating or thelike. The surfactant can be applied to the entire bodyside liner 28 orit can be selectively applied to particular sections of the bodysideliner 28.

In an embodiment, a bodyside liner 28 can be constructed of a non-wovenbicomponent web. The non-woven bicomponent web can be a spunbondedbicomponent web, or a bonded-carded bicomponent web. An example of abicomponent staple fiber includes a polyethylene/polypropylenebicomponent fiber. In this particular bicomponent fiber, thepolypropylene forms the core and the polyethylene forms the sheath ofthe fiber. Fibers having other orientations, such as multi-lobe,side-by-side, end-to-end may be used without departing from the scope ofthis disclosure. In an embodiment, a bodyside liner 28 can be a spunbondsubstrate with a basis weight from about 10 or 12 to about 15 or 20 gsm.In an embodiment, a bodyside liner 28 can be a 12 gsmspunbond-meltblown-spunbond substrate having 10% meltblown contentapplied between the two spunbond layers.

Although the outer cover 26 and bodyside liner 28 can includeelastomeric materials, it is contemplated that the outer cover 26 andthe bodyside liner 28 can be composed of materials which are generallynon-elastomeric. In an embodiment, the bodyside liner 28 can bestretchable, and more suitably elastic. In an embodiment, the bodysideliner 28 can be suitably stretchable and more suitably elastic in atleast the lateral or circumferential direction of the absorbent article10, 310. In other aspects, the bodyside liner 28 can be stretchable, andmore suitably elastic, in both the lateral and the longitudinaldirections 32, 30, respectively.

Containment Flaps:

In an embodiment, the absorbent article 10, 310 can include a pair ofcontainment flaps 50, 52. The containment flaps 50, 52 can be formedseparately from the absorbent chassis 11 and attached to the chassis 11or can be formed integral to the chassis 11. In some embodiments, thecontainment flaps 50, 52 can be secured to the chassis 11 of theabsorbent article 10, 310 in a generally parallel, spaced relation witheach other laterally inward of the leg openings to provide a barrieragainst the flow of body exudates. One containment flap 50 can be on afirst side of the longitudinal axis 29 and the other containment flap 52can be on a second side of the longitudinal axis 29. In an embodiment,the containment flaps 50, 52 can extend generally in a longitudinaldirection 30 from the front waist region 12 of the absorbent article 10,through the crotch region 16 to the rear waist region 14 of theabsorbent article 10. In some embodiments, the containment flaps 50, 52can extend in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinalaxis 29 of the absorbent article 10, however, in other embodiments, thecontainment flaps 50, 52 can be curved, as is known in the art. In otherembodiments, such as the absorbent article 310 in FIGS. 10 and 11, thecontainment flaps 50, 52 can be disposed on the absorbent panel 17 inthe crotch region 16.

In embodiments where the containment flaps 50, 52 are coupled to thechassis 11, the containment flaps 50, 52 can be bonded to the bodysideliner 28 with a barrier adhesive 49, as shown in FIG. 4 or thecontainment flaps 50, 52 can be bonded to the outer cover 26 with abarrier adhesive 49 in some embodiments where the bodyside liner 28 doesnot extend the full lateral width of the outer cover 26. Of course, thecontainment flaps 50, 52 can be bonded to other components of thechassis 11 and can be bonded with other suitable means other than abarrier adhesive 49. The containment flaps 50, 52 can be constructed ofa fibrous material which can be similar to the material forming thebodyside liner 28. Other conventional materials, such as polymer films,can also be employed.

The containment flaps 50, 52 can each include a base portion 64 and aprojection portion 66. The base portion 64 can be bonded to the chassis11, for example, to the bodyside liner 28 or the outer cover 26 asmentioned above. The base portion 64 can include a proximal end 64 a anda distal end 64 b. The projection portion 66 can be separated from thebase portion 64 at the proximal end 64 a of the base portion 64. As usedin this context, the projection portion 66 is separated from the baseportion 64 at the proximal end 64 a of the base portion 64 in that theproximal end 64 a of the base portion 64 defines a transition betweenthe projection portion 66 and the base portion 64. The proximal end 64 aof the base portion 64 can be located near the barrier adhesive 49. Insome embodiments, the distal ends 64 b of the base portion 64 canlaterally extend to the respective longitudinal side edges 18, 20 of theabsorbent article 10. In other embodiments, the distal ends 64 b of thebase portion 64 can end laterally inward of the respective longitudinalside edges 18, 20 of the absorbent article 10, 310. The containmentflaps 50, 52 can also each include a projection portion 66 that isconfigured to extend away from the body facing surface 19 of the chassis11 at least in the crotch region 16 when the absorbent article 10 is ina relaxed configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The containment flaps50, 52 can include a tack-down region 71 in either or both of the frontwaist region 12 and the rear waist region 14 where the projectionportion 66 is coupled to the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 11.

It is contemplated that the containment flaps 50, 52 can be of variousconfigurations and shapes, and can be constructed by various methods.For example, the containment flaps 50, 52 of FIG. 2 depict a verticalcontainment flap 50, 52 with a tack-down region 71 in both the front andrear waist regions 12, 14 where the projection portion 66 of eachcontainment flap 50, 52 is tacked down to the bodyside liner 28 towardsor away from the longitudinal axis 29 of the absorbent article 10.However, the containment flaps 50, 52 can include a tack-down region 71where the projection portion 66 of each of the containment flaps 50, 52is folded back upon itself and coupled to itself and the bodyside liner28 in a “C-shape” configuration, as is known in the art and described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,895,382 to Robert L. Popp et al. As yet anotheralternative, it is contemplated that the containment flaps 50, 52 couldbe constructed in a “T-shape” configuration, such as described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/900,134 by Robert L. Popp et al., whichpublished as U.S. Patent Application Publication 2014/0350504. Such aconfiguration can also include a tack-down region 71 in either or bothof the front and rear waist regions 12, 14, respectively. Of course,other configurations of containment flaps 50, 52 can be used in theabsorbent article 10, 310 and still remain within the scope of thisdisclosure.

The containment flaps 50, 52 can include one or more flap elasticmembers 68, such as the two flap elastic strands depicted in FIGS. 2 and4. Suitable elastic materials for the flap elastic members 68 caninclude sheets, strands or ribbons of natural rubber, synthetic rubber,or thermoplastic elastomeric materials. Of course, while two elasticmembers 68 are shown in each containment flap 50, 52, it is contemplatedthat the containment flaps 50, 52 can be configured with one or three ormore elastic members 68. Alternatively or additionally, the containmentflaps 50, 52 can be composed of a material exhibiting elastic propertiesitself.

The flap elastic members 68, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, can havetwo strands of elastomeric material extending longitudinally in theprojection portion 66 of the containment flaps 50, 52, in generallyparallel, spaced relation with each other. The elastic members 68 can bewithin the containment flaps 50, 52 while in an elastically contractiblecondition such that contraction of the strands gathers and shortens theprojection portions 66 of the containment flaps 50, 52 in thelongitudinal direction 30. As a result, the elastic members 68 can biasthe projection portions 66 of the containment flaps 50, 52 to extendaway from the body facing surface 45 of the absorbent assembly 44 in agenerally upright orientation of the containment flaps 50, 52,especially in the crotch region 16 of the absorbent article 10, when theabsorbent article 10 is in a relaxed configuration.

During manufacture of the containment flaps 50, 52 at least a portion ofthe elastic members 68 can be bonded to the containment flaps 50, 52while the elastic members 68 are elongated. The percent elongation ofthe elastic members 68 can be, for example, about 110% to about 350%.The elastic members 68 can be coated with adhesive while elongated to aspecified length prior to attaching to the elastic members 68 to thecontainment flaps 50, 52. In a stretched condition, the length of theelastic members 68 which have adhesive coupled thereto can provide anactive flap elastic region 70 in the containment flaps 50, 52, aslabeled in FIG. 2, which will gather upon relaxation of the absorbentarticle 10. The active flap elastic region 70 of containment flaps 50,52 can be of a longitudinal length that is less than the length of theabsorbent article 10, 310. In this exemplary method of bonding theelastic members 68 to the containment flaps 50, 52, the portion of theelastic members 68 not coated with adhesive will retract after theelastic members 68 and the absorbent article 10 are cut in manufacturingto form an individual absorbent article 10. As noted above, the relaxingof the elastic members 68 in the active flap elastic region 70 when theabsorbent article 10, 310 is in a relaxed condition can cause eachcontainment flap 50, 52 to gather and cause the projection portion 66 ofeach containment flap 50, 52 to extend away from the body facing surface19 of the chassis 11 (e.g., the body facing surface 45 of the absorbentassembly 44 or the body facing surface 56 of the bodyside liner 28), asdepicted in FIG. 4.

Of course, the elastic members 68 can be bonded to the containment flaps50, 52 in various other ways as known by those of skill in the art toprovide an active flap elastic region 70, which is within the scope ofthis disclosure. Additionally, the active flap elastic regions 70 can beshorter or longer than depicted herein, including extending to the frontwaist edge 22 and the rear waist edge 24, and still be within the scopeof this disclosure.

Leg Elastics:

Leg elastic members 60, 62 can be secured to the outer cover 26, such asby being bonded thereto by laminate adhesive, generally laterally inwardof the longitudinal side edges, 18 and 20, of the absorbent article 10,310. The leg elastic members 60, 62 can form elasticized leg cuffs thatfurther help to contain body exudates. In an embodiment, the leg elasticmembers 60, 62 may be disposed between inner and outer layers (notshown) of the outer cover 26 or between other layers of the absorbentarticle 10, for example, between the base portion 64 of each containmentflap 50, 52 and the bodyside liner 28 as depicted in FIG. 4, between thebase portion 64 of each containment flap 50, 52 and the outer cover 26,or between the bodyside liner 28 and the outer cover 26. The leg elasticmembers 60, 62 can be one or more elastic components near eachlongitudinal side edge 18, 20. For example, the leg elastic members 60,62 as illustrated herein each include two elastic strands. A widevariety of elastic materials may be used for the leg elastic members 60,62. Suitable elastic materials can include sheets, strands or ribbons ofnatural rubber, synthetic rubber, or thermoplastic elastomericmaterials. The elastic materials can be stretched and secured to asubstrate, secured to a gathered substrate, or secured to a substrateand then elasticized or shrunk, for example, with the application ofheat, such that the elastic retractive forces are imparted to thesubstrate. Additionally, it is contemplated that the leg elastic members60, 62 can be formed with the containment flaps 50, 52, and thenattached to the chassis 11 in some embodiments. Of course, the legelastic members 60, 62 can be omitted from the absorbent article 10, 310without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

Waist Containment Member:

In an embodiment, the absorbent article 10, 310 can have one or morewaist containment members 54. FIGS. 1-4, 10, and 11 depict an absorbentarticle 10, 310 with an embodiment of a waist containment member 54.

The waist containment member 54 can be disposed in the rear waist region14 as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, 10 and 11. As will be discussed in moredetail below, the waist containment member 54 can help contain and/orabsorb body exudates, especially low viscosity fecal matter, and assuch, can be preferred to be in the rear waist region 14. In someembodiments, the absorbent article 10, 310 can have a waist containmentmember 54 disposed in the front waist region 12. A waist containmentmember 54 in the front waist region 12 can help contain and/or absorbbody exudates, such as urine, in the front waist region 12. Although notas prevalent as in the rear waist region 14, in some circumstances,fecal material may also spread to the front waist region 12, and thus, awaist containment member 54 disposed in the front waist region 12 canhelp contain and/or absorb body exudates as well. In other embodiments,the absorbent article 10, 310 can have a waist containment member 54 inboth the rear waist region 14 and the front waist region 12.

In some embodiments, the waist containment member 54 can be disposed onthe body facing surface 45 of the absorbent assembly 44. In someembodiments, such as in embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the waistcontainment member 54 can be disposed on the body facing surface 56 ofthe bodyside liner 28. However, in some embodiments, such as theabsorbent article 310 in FIG. 11, the waist containment member 54 can bedisposed on a body facing surface 58 of the rear waist panel 15 of thechassis 11.

The waist containment member 54 is made from a waist containmentmaterial 101 and can include a first longitudinal side edge 72, a secondlongitudinal side edge 74, a waist containment first end edge 103 and awaist containment second edge 105 joining the first longitudinal edge 72and the second longitudinal edge 74. The waist containment member 54 hasa first surface 102 which is designed to come in contact with the bodyof the wearer and a second surface 104 opposite the first surface 102.The first longitudinal side edge 72 can be opposite from the secondlongitudinal side edge 74. The distance between the first longitudinalside edge 72 and the second longitudinal side edge 74 can define a width51 of the waist containment member 54 in the lateral direction 32, asshown in FIG. 2. Although not depicted, in some embodiments, the firstlongitudinal side edge 72 can substantially align with the firstlongitudinal side edge 18 of the absorbent article 10. Similarly, insome embodiments, the second longitudinal side edge 74 can align withthe second longitudinal side edge 20 of the absorbent article 10. Asillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 11, the waist containment member 54 can beconfigured such that the first longitudinal side edge 72 can be disposedlaterally outward of the proximal end 64 a of the base portion 64 of thecontainment flap 50. Similarly, the waist containment member 54 can beconfigured such that the second longitudinal side edge 74 can bedisposed laterally outward of the proximal end 64 a of the base portion64 of the containment flap 52.

In various embodiments, the waist containment member 54 can also includea proximal portion 76 and a distal portion 78. The proximal portion 76can be coupled to the body facing surface 19 of chassis 11 (e.g., thebody facing surface 45 of the absorbent assembly 44 or the body facingsurface 56 of the bodyside liner 28) whereas the distal portion 78 or atleast a portion of the distal portion of the waist containment member 54can be free to move with respect to the chassis 11 and the absorbentassembly 44 when the absorbent article 10, 310 is in the relaxedconfiguration, such as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 3 provides across-sectional view of the waist containment member 54 of FIG. 2 in arelaxed configuration, such that the distal portion 78 can be seenextending away from the chassis 11 and absorbent assembly 44 in avertical direction 33 along the vertical axis 100, which isperpendicular to the plane defined by the longitudinal axis 29 and thelateral axis 31. A first fold 79 a can separate the proximal portion 76from the distal portion 78 in the various embodiments of the waistcontainment member 54 discussed herein. As used in this context, thefirst fold 79 a separates the proximal portion 76 from the distalportion 78 in that the first fold 79 a defines a transition between theproximal portion 76 and the distal portion 78 in the containment membermaterial 101 and the containment member 54 as a whole. In alternateembodiments (not shown) the proximal portion 76 and the distal portion78 can be made from separate materials which are attached to one anothersuch as, for example, in the area of the first fold 79 a or in lieu ofthe first fold 79 a. The physical form of the attachment may be, forexample, by way of a butt seam or a lap seam. The first fold line 79 a,as with the other fold lines discussed below, extends is the directionof the lateral axis 31 meaning that the fold line runs in a directiongenerally parallel to the lateral axis 31 and thus generallyperpendicular to the longitudinal axis 29.

The proximal portion 76 can be coupled to the body facing surface 19 ofthe chassis 11 with an adhesive 80, and in some embodiments, theproximal portion 76 can be coupled to the body facing surface 45 of theabsorbent assembly 44. In some embodiments, such as in embodimentsillustrated in FIGS. 2-4, the proximal portion 76 of the waistcontainment member 54 can be coupled to the body facing surface 56 ofthe bodyside liner 28. However, in some embodiments, such as theabsorbent article 310 in FIG. 11, the proximal portion 76 of the waistcontainment member 54 can be coupled to the body facing surface 58 ofthe rear waist panel 15. As illustrated in the examples shown in FIG. 3,the proximal portion 76 can be coupled to the body facing surface 45 ofthe absorbent assembly 44 with adhesive 80 along the entire length ofthe proximal portion 76 in the longitudinal direction 30, however, itcan be contemplated that only a portion of the proximal portion 76 inthe longitudinal direction 30 is coupled to the body facing surface 45of the absorbent assembly 44. Of course, it is contemplated that theproximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 can be coupled tothe body facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 or the body facing surface45 of the absorbent assembly 44 by means other than an adhesive 80, suchas by pressure bonding, ultrasonic bonding, thermal bonding, andcombinations thereof. In preferred embodiments, the proximal portion 76is coupled to the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 in thelateral direction 32 in a constant fashion along the lateral axis 31, asopposed to an intermittent fashion, such that a barrier to body exudatesis formed between the proximal portion 76 and the body facing surface 19of the chassis 11.

The proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 can include alongitudinal length measured in the longitudinal direction 30 along thelongitudinal axis 29 that is shorter than a longitudinal length of thedistal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54 (not shown).However in some embodiments, the longitudinal length of the proximalportion 76 can be substantially equal to or larger than the longitudinallength of the distal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54. Forpurposes herein, the longitudinal length of the proximal portion 76 andthe longitudinal length of the distal portion 78 of the waistcontainment member 54 are measured when the absorbent article 10, 310 isin the stretched, laid flat configuration. It can be appreciated thatthe relative longitudinal lengths of the proximal portion 76 and thedistal portion 78 can be varied between embodiments of the waistcontainment member 54 without departing from the scope of thisdisclosure.

The width 51 of the proximal portion 76 and the distal portion 78 can bethe same or different from one another. The proximal portion 76 has aproximal portion lateral width as measured between the firstlongitudinal side edge 72 and the second longitudinal side edge 74. In asimilar fashion, the distal portion 78 has a distal portion lateralwidth as measured between the first longitudinal side edge 72 and thesecond longitudinal side edge 74. In an embodiment, the proximal portionlateral width can be equal to the distal portion lateral width. In anembodiment, the proximal portion lateral width can be greater than thedistal portion lateral width. For example, the proximal portion lateralwidth can be between about 10 percent and about 40 percent greater thanthe distal portion lateral width. Alternatively, the proximal portionlateral width can be between about 20 percent and about 30 percentgreater than the distal portion lateral width. The determination of suchwidth differences is determined when the absorbent article 10 is in astretched, laid-flat configuration. Thus, for example, if the proximalportion 76 had a proximal portion lateral width of 110 mm and the distalportion 78 had a distal portion lateral width of 100 mm, the proximalportion width would be 10 percent greater than the distal portion. Thevariation in width can be accomplished in a number of ways. In anembodiment, the longitudinal side edges 72 and 74 can be cut in anon-linear fashion or the longitudinal side edges 72 and 74 can befolded to reduce the width of one portion as opposed to another. Inanother embodiment, the proximal portion 76 can be formed from adifferent material having a different lateral dimension than that of thedistal portion 78. When two or more different materials are used, theycan be attached to one another by any suitable means such as, but notlimited to, adhesives, ultrasonic bonds, thermal bonds, pressure bonds,or other conventional techniques. Such attachment can take place in thearea of the first fold 79 a or at other locations in the waistcontainment member 54.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, because the distal portion 78 of the waistcontainment member 54 can freely move with respect to the absorbentassembly 44 when the absorbent article 10, is in the relaxedconfiguration, the distal portion 78 can help provide a containmentpocket 82 when the absorbent article 10 is in the relaxed configurationwhen being worn by the wearer. The containment pocket 82 can helpprovide a barrier to contain and/or can help absorb body exudates. Thecontainment pocket 82 can be especially beneficial for containing and/orabsorbing low viscosity fecal matter, which can be prevalent in youngerchildren. The first longitudinal side edge 72 can be disposed laterallyoutward of the proximal end 64 a of the base portion 64 of thecontainment flap 50, and thus, the pocket 82 can extend laterallyoutward of the proximal end 64 a of the containment flap 50. Similarly,the second longitudinal side edge 74 can be disposed laterally outwardof the proximal end 64 a of the base portion 64 of the containment flap52 and the pocket 82 can extend laterally outward of the proximal end 64a of the containment flap 52. Such a configuration provides waistcontainment member 54 with a wide containment pocket 82 to containand/or absorb body exudates. To help prevent lateral flow of bodyexudates that are contained by the containment pocket 82 of the waistcontainment member 54, the distal portion 78 of the waist containmentmember 54 can be bonded to the proximal portion 76 of the waistcontainment member 54 and/or the body facing surface 19 of the chassis11 near the first and second longitudinal side edges 72, 74,respectively. For example, FIGS. 2, 4 and 11 depict tack-down regions 84where the distal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54 can bebonded to the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54and/or the body facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 near the first andsecond longitudinal side edges 72, 74, respectively.

In some embodiments, the width 51 of the waist containment member 54 inthe lateral direction 32 as compared to the width 53 of the chassis 11(as labeled in FIG. 2) can have a ratio of about 0.85 to about 1.00. Insome embodiments, the width 51 of the waist containment member 54 in thelateral direction 32 as compared to the width 53 of the chassis 11 canhave a ratio of about 0.87 to about 1.00. And in other embodiments, thewidth 51 of the waist containment member 54 in the lateral direction 32as compared to the width 53 of the chassis 11 can have a ratio of about0.90 to about 1.00. For purposes herein, the width 53 of the chassis 11for use in this ratio is the width 53 of the chassis 11 in the waistregion in which the waist containment member 54 is disposed and bothwidth measurements are taken in a direction parallel to the lateraldirection 32. Thus, for the examples illustrated herein, the width 51 ofthe waist containment member 54 can be compared to the width 53 of thechassis 11 in the rear waist region 14. Additionally, the width 51 ofthe waist containment member 54 in the lateral direction 32 and thewidth 53 of the chassis 11 as discussed for the ratios herein are to bemeasured when the absorbent article 10, 310 is in the stretched, laidflat configuration.

As previously discussed a problem with current absorbent articlesemploying pocketing systems to trap body exudates and in particularrunny bowel movements is the fact that they do not provide as tight asfit as is ultimately desired especially between the rear waist region 14and the rear waist edge 24 and the gluteal depression located in therear torso of a wearer of absorbent articles such as are disclosed anddiscussed herein. Research has indicated that several aspects ofabsorbent article designs contribute to poor fit and leakage of suchrunny exudates. First is the location of the elastic materials used tocreate tension in the absorbent article and the second is the effect ofthe tension so applied to the materials of the absorbent article.Commonly, the most economical materials used to create tension in suchabsorbent articles are elastic strand materials such as Lycra® strands,round or flat pieces of natural rubber, elastic films and/or strips ofelastic films. Typically, such elastic materials are encased in othersofter layers of material such as layers of fibrous nonwovenwebs—spunbond webs, meltblown webs and bonded carded staple fiber websbeing but a few examples. The elastic materials are formed intolaminates with outer layers of fibrous nonwoven web forming the exteriorlayers of the laminate and the elastic material forming the interiorlayer. In one, non-limiting example, the elastics can be stretched andthen affixed to the external layers while in the stretched state withadhesives or other techniques. Once the elastics are affixed and theadhesive has dried, the laminate is allowed to relax thereby causing thelaminate to retract and the external layers to form gathers.Alternatively, the elastics can be laid down in an un-tensionedconfiguration and attached to two external layers of material, such as,for example, bonded carded webs, thereby forming an elastic laminate.After lamination, the laminate can be subjected to a stretching processsuch a grooved rolling to partially break the bonds of the cared web andimparting elasticity to the overall laminate.

Depending on a series of factors including the amount of retraction, thebasis weights of the nonwoven layers, the degree of bonding of theelastics to the external layers and other factors, the gathers so formedin the laminate can form peaks and valley which provide fluid pathwaysvia the valleys for the body exudates to escape between the body facingsurface of the absorbent article and the skin of the wearer. Because ofthe degree of body curvature in the area of the gluteal depression, thepropensity for leakage can be increased.

The design of the present invention allows the creation of an absorbentarticle which still employs such waist-pocketing techniques but reducesthe tendency for leakage and undesirable design traits. First, as willbe discussed in further detail below, the waist containment member 54according to the present invention employs elastic members 86 in itsproximal portion 76 where the waist containment member 54 is attached tothe chassis 11 in the area of the absorbent article 10, 310 more closelyassociated with the central waist opening 23. Optionally, elasticmembers 86 can be located in its distal portion 78.

If past product designs which formed pockets did not utilize elastics inthe proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 locatedadjacent the rear waist edge 24, the elastics 86 located only in thedistal portion 78 tended to relocate the elastic tension in the rearwaist region 14 from a form in which the elastic tension was appliedcontinuously along the width 53 of the chassis 11 to only being attachedat two points near the outside ears where the back fasteners 91 werelocated. Because the tension was only pulling on the ears, the earstended to fold in when not being pulled. This could result in theabsorbent article being slightly more difficult to apply by theconsumer.

A second problem was that the previous designs posed an aesthetic faultwhen looking at the back of the product when positioned on the wearer.It was determined that such designs did not have elasticity high up onthe back of the product, thereby allowing the back waist edge to pullaway from the skin of the wearer and form a gap between the waist andthe wearer. The present invention's utilization of elastic members 86 inthe proximal portion 76, results in the waist tension being moreuniformly distributed across the entire width of the waist area of theabsorbent article 10 adjacent the rear waist edge 24 and/or adjacent thefront waist edge 22 when a waist containment member 54 is located in thefront waist region 12.

In addition, as can be seen from the cross-section of FIG. 3, theelastic members 86 a located near the waist edge, in this case the rearwaist edge 24, are located below the outermost layer of the waistcontainment member 54 which is non-elasticized. As a result, it has beenfound that this external layer of material directly overlaying theelastic members 86 is able to make a better seal with the skin of thewearer as it is less prone to having the number or degree of gathersthat, as described above, are typically associated with normal elasticconfigurations located in the waist region of such absorbent articles.

Turning to FIG. 3 again, the waist containment member 54 can include atleast one elastic member 86 located in the proximal portion 76 and,optionally, the distal portion 78. The elastic member 86 in the proximalportion 76 is designated proximal portion elastic member 86 a and theelastic member 86 located in the distal portion 78 is designated distalportion elastic member 86 b. It should be understood that in referencingthe elastic members 86 (86 a, 86 b) that the singular term “member” ismeant to include the plural “members” and vice versa in that an elasticmember can comprise, for example, one elastic strand or multiple elasticstrands or a single sheet of elastic material such as an elastic film.

The proximal portion elastic member 86 a and the distal portion elasticmember 86 b can both extend in the lateral direction 32. They each canhave a length in this regard and the proximal portion elastic member 86a can be less than, equal to or greater than the length of the distalportion elastic member 86 b. In addition, the lengths of the elasticmembers 86 within either or both of the proximal portion 76 and thedistal portion 78 can vary in length within the individual regions whenmultiple elastic members are being used. Either or both elastic members86 a, 86 b can extend from the first longitudinal side edge 72 to thesecond longitudinal side edge 74. Alternatively, either or both elasticmembers 86 a, 86 b can extend a distance which is less than the width 51of the waist containment member 54 as measured from the firstlongitudinal side edge 72 to the second longitudinal side edge 74 whenthe absorbent article 10 is in a stretched, laid-flat configuration. Inan embodiment, the proximal portion elastic member 86 a located in theproximal portion 76 can extend at least 70 percent of the distancebetween the first longitudinal side edge 72 and the second longitudinalside edge 74. In an embodiment, the proximal portion elastic member 86 alocated in the proximal portion 76 can extend at least 80 percent of thedistance between the first longitudinal side edge 72 and the secondlongitudinal side edge 74. In an embodiment, the proximal portionelastic member 86 a located in the proximal portion 76 can extend atleast 90 percent of the distance between the first longitudinal sideedge 72 and the second longitudinal side edge 74. Such percentages aredetermined when the absorbent article 10 is in a stretched, laid-flatconfiguration.

In an embodiment, the distal portion elastic member 86 b located in thedistal portion 78 can extend at least 70 percent of the distance betweenthe first longitudinal side edge 72 and the second longitudinal sideedge 74. In an embodiment, the distal portion elastic member 86 blocated in the distal portion 78 can extend at least 80 percent of thedistance between the first longitudinal side edge 72 and the secondlongitudinal side edge 74. In an embodiment, the distal portion elasticmember 86 b located in the distal portion 78 can extend at least 90percent of the distance between the first longitudinal side edge 72 andthe second longitudinal side edge 74. Such percentages are determinedwhen the absorbent article 10 is in a stretched, laid-flatconfiguration.

In still a further embodiment, one or more of the proximal portionelastic members 86 a may be joined to one or more of the distal portionelastic members 86 b, especially if the elastic members 86 are appliedto the waist containment member 54 is a serpentine fashion.

Generally, it has been found advantageous for the length of the proximalportion elastic member 86 a to be equal to the length of the distalportion elastic member 86 b. However, in an embodiment, the length ofthe proximal portion elastic member 86 a can be less than or greaterthan the length of the distal portion elastic member 86 b. This lengthis determined when the absorbent article 10 is in a stretched, laid-flatconfiguration.

As shown in FIG. 3, the waist containment member 54 has a proximal endor edge 106 located in the proximal portion 76 and a distal end or edge108 located in the distal portion 78. In some embodiments, such as theembodiment depicted in FIG. 3, the waist containment member 54 caninclude multiple elastic members 86, such as five distal portion elasticmembers 86 b in the distal portion 78 and two proximal portion elasticmembers 86 a in the proximal portion 76. Of course, it is contemplatedthat the waist containment member 54 can include other amounts ofelastic members 86. In some embodiments, the elastic members 86 can bespaced evenly in the longitudinal direction 30 in either or both theproximal portion 76 and the distal portion 78 of the waist containmentmember 54. In some embodiments, the elastic members 86 can be spacedunevenly in the longitudinal direction 30 in either or both the proximalportion 76 and the distal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54.

The distal portion elastic member 86 b can be disposed in the distalportion 78 of the waist containment member 54, and preferably, islocated near the distal edge 108 of the distal portion 78 of the waistcontainment member 54. As illustrated in FIG. 3, in a preferredembodiment, the distal portion elastic member(s) 86 b can be disposedwithin a laminate portion 90 of the distal portion 78 of the waistcontainment member 54 to aid in containing the distal portion elasticmember(s) 86 b. The laminate portion 90 can be disposed near the distaledge 108 of the distal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54. Insome embodiments, the laminate portion 90 can be formed by a second fold79 b near the distal edge 108 of the distal portion 78. For example, inFIG. 3, the laminate portion 90 can be formed by a second fold 79 b inthe distal portion 78 at the distal edge 108 of the waist containmentmember 54. The tack-down regions 84 such as is show in FIG. 4, ifpresent, can help retain the elastic member(s) 86 (86 a, 86 b) in placeat the longitudinal side edges 72, 74, as well as help retain distaledge 108 in place.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the proximal portion 76 has itsproximal portion elastic member 86 a located on the second surface 104of the waist containment material 101 of the waist containment member54. To further isolate the elastic gathering effect from thebody-contacting surface (first surface 102), a third fold 110 can beformed in the waist containment material 101 located in the proximalportion 76 of the waist containment member 54. As a result of this thirdfold 110, the proximal edge 106 is located closer to the crotch region16 and the lateral axis 31 than is the first end edge 103. Conversely,the first end edge 103 of the waist containment material 101 is locatedcloser to the rear waist edge 24 than is the proximal edge 106. As aresult of this third fold 110, the proximal portion elastic members 86 aare sandwiched between two layers of waist containment material 101 as aportion of the waist containment material 101 between the third fold 110and the first end edge 103 is located in the vertical direction 100above at least a portion of the proximal portion elastic member 86 a inthe proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54. Further, theproximal portion elastic member 86 a may be coupled to the secondsurface 104 of the waist containment material 101 with adhesives orother means in the same fashion the distal portion elastic member 86 bis adhered to the second surface 104 in the formation of the laminateportion 90.

In an alternate embodiment (not shown) the proximal portion elasticmember 86 a may be relocated to first surface 102 such that it islocated in the area of the coupling adhesive 80 between the body facingsurface of the chassis 11 (the body facing surface 45 of the absorbentassembly 44 or the body facing surface 56 of the body facing layer 28)and the first surface 102 of the proximal portion 76. In thisembodiment, the third fold 110 may be maintained (and optionally coupledto the lower layer of material 101 in the proximal portion 76) or theportion of the waist containment material 101 between the third fold 110and the first end edge 103 may be eliminated in which case the first endedge 103 will be coterminous with the proximal edge 106. The same isalso true with respect to the waist containment material 101 in thedistal portion 78 between the second fold 79 b and the second end edge105.

A wide variety of elastic materials may be used for the elasticmember(s) 86 (86 a, 86 b) in the waist containment member 54. Suitableelastic materials can include sheets, strands or ribbons of naturalrubber, synthetic rubber, thermoplastic elastomeric materials, orelastic foams. The elastic materials can be stretched and secured to asubstrate forming the waist containment member 54, secured to a gatheredsubstrate, or secured to a substrate and then elasticized or shrunk, forexample, with the application of heat, such that the elastic retractiveforces are imparted to the substrate forming the waist containmentmember 54.

As depicted in FIGS. 2 and 11, in some embodiments the waist containmentmember 54 can be disposed on the body facing surface 19 of the chassis11 such that a gap 85 is provided between the second end edge 42 of theabsorbent body 34 and the distal edge 108 of the distal portion 78 ofthe waist containment member 54. By providing a gap 85, the containmentpocket 82 can have a greater void volume for body exudates.Additionally, it is believed that gap 85 can help body exudates enterthe containment pocket 82 of the waist containment member 54.

The waist containment member 54 can be disposed to be coupled to thechassis 11 by being placed either over the containment flaps 50, 52 orunder the containment flaps 50, 52. More specifically, as shown in FIGS.2 and 11, the waist containment member 54 can be disposed on the bodyfacing surface 19 of the chassis 11 such that the proximal portion 76 ofthe waist containment member 54 is disposed over the base portion 64 ofthe first and the second containment flaps 50, 52, respectively.Alternatively, the waist containment member 54 can be disposed on thebody facing surface 19 of the chassis 11 such that the proximal portion76 of the waist containment member 54 is disposed under the base portion64 of the first and the second containment flaps 50, 52, respectively.Both configurations can provide advantages to the functioning of thewaist containment member 54 to contain and/or absorb body exudates.

Embodiments where the proximal portion 76 of the waist containmentmember 54 is disposed over the base portion 64 of the containment flaps50, 52 can provide the advantage that the containment flaps 50, 52 canhelp the distal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54 extendaway from the body facing surface 45 of the absorbent assembly 44 whenthe absorbent article 10, 310 is applied to the wearer. This isespecially relevant where the proximal portion 76 of the waistcontainment member 54 has a shorter longitudinal length than the distalportion 78 of the waist containment member 54. For example, because theproximal portion 76 is shorter than the distal portion 78, the flapelastics 68 in the projection portion 66 of the containment flaps 50, 52can provide an opening force on the distal portion 78 of the waistcontainment member 54 when the absorbent article 10 is in the relaxedconfiguration and applied to the wearer, thus helping the distal portion78 extend away from the body facing surface 45 of the absorbent assembly44 and opening the containment pocket 82. In some embodiments, thecontainment pocket 82 can be additionally or alternatively opened byconfiguring the containment flaps 50, 52 to have an active flap elasticregion 70 that longitudinally overlaps with the distal portion 78 of thewaist containment member 54 when the absorbent article 10 is in thestretched, laid flat configuration, such as illustrated in FIG. 2.Additionally or alternatively, the containment pocket 82 of the waistcontainment member 54 can be opened by configuring the containment flaps50, 52 to have a tack-down region 71 that does not extend to the distaledge 108 of the distal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54,such as illustrated in FIG. 2. However, such a configuration of thetack-down region 71 is not required, and in some embodiments, thetack-down region 71 can extend from the rear waist edge 24 past thedistal edge 108 of the distal portion 78 of the waist containment member54.

Embodiments where the proximal portion 76 of the waist containmentmember 54 is disposed under the base portion 64 of the containment flaps50, 52 can provide the advantage of having the containment pocket 82formed by the waist containment member 54 be free from the projectionportion 66 of the containment flaps 50, 52. Both the base portion 64 andthe projection portion 66 of each containment flap 50, 52 can be coupledto the body facing surface 55 of the waist containment member 54. As aresult, body exudates may more freely spread through the full width ofthe containment pocket 82 created by the waist containment member 54.Additionally, the coupling of the base portion 64 of the containmentflaps 50, 52 to the outer cover 26 (or in some embodiments to thebodyside liner 28) can create a longitudinal barrier to the flow of bodyexudates out of the containment pocket 82 for exudates that spreadlaterally beyond the location of the barrier adhesive 49. In someembodiments, the tack-down region 71 of the projection portion 66 ofeach of the containment flaps 50, 52 can longitudinally overlap with thedistal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54. In someembodiments, the tack-down region 71 of projection portion 66 of each ofthe containment flaps 50, 52 can extend to the distal edge 108 of thewaist containment member 54 to further assist in containing exudateswithin the containment pocket 82 created by the waist containment member54.

Turning to FIGS. 5-9, a series of anthropometric studies and dataprovide further understanding for why the addition of proximal portionelastic members 86 a to the proximal portion 76 and the selectivelocation of the distal edge 108 of the distal portion 78 of the waistcontainment member 54 can provide the benefit of reducing body exudatesleaking from the absorbent article 10, 310. FIG. 5 depicts a digitizedtorso of a wearer, representative of an infant that is in the mid-rangeof a step 2 size diaper, approximately 15.7 pounds and 10 months old.The approximate waistline position 21 for where the front waist edge 22and rear waist edge 24 would be located for a properly fitted absorbentarticle 10, 310 is shown. FIG. 6 provides a perspective view of thedigitized torso of FIG. 5, with a cross-section taken at the waistline21. FIG. 6 shows a bisection line 63 that bisects the torso. Point 65 islocated where the bisection line 63 intersects the waistline 21 in thesmall of the back region 67 of the torso.

FIG. 7 provides a top plan view of the torso from FIG. 6 and shows point65 at the intersection of the bisection line 63 with the waistline 21 inthe small of the back region 67 of the wearer. As illustrated in FIG. 7,the small of the back region 67 at this location on the wearer's torsohas a convex configuration. Two lines 63 a and 63 b are shown as beingparallel to bisection line 63. Lines 63 a and 63 b are each spaced 25.0mm, respectively, on opposite sides of the bisection line 63 and definethe width of the small of the back region 67. The lines 63 a and 63 bintersect the waistline 21 of the torso at points 65 a and 65 b,respectively. A profile 77 a of the back region of the torso of FIG. 5is thus defined between points 65 a and 65 b, passing through point 65.

FIGS. 8A-8D provides profiles 77 a, 77 b, 77 c, 77 d of the back regionof the torso from FIG. 5 at various cross-sections of the torso relativeto the waistline 21, extending between points 65 a and 65 b discussedabove. FIG. 8A provides the profile 77 a of the back region of the torsoof FIG. 5 at the cross-section taken right at the waistline 21. FIG. 8Bprovides a profile 77 b of the back region of the torso taken 25.0 mmbelow the waistline 21. FIG. 8C provides a profile 77 c of the backregion of the torso taken 50.0 mm below the waistline 21. FIG. 8Dprovides a profile 77 d of the back region of the torso taken 75.0 mmbelow the waistline 21. FIGS. 8A-8D depict how the torso transitionsfrom a generally linear or slightly convex shape to a concave shape.

Viewing FIGS. 8A and 8B, it can be seen that the torso in the backregion has a generally linear, or slightly convex profile 77 a, 77 bwhen viewed at the waistline 21 (FIG. 8A) and 25.0 mm below thewaistline 21 (FIG. 8B). However, a concave nature in the profiles 77 cand 77 d in the back region of the torso can be seen when the torso isviewed at 50.0 mm below the waistline 21 (FIG. 8C) and 75.0 mm below thewaistline 21 (FIG. 8D). The concave nature of the torso along profiles77 c and 77 d depicts the gluteal depression on the torso. The glutealdepression provides a passage for body exudates to escape from anabsorbent article, possibly soiling the wearer's back, clothing, sheets,or that of a caregiver. The depth of the gluteal depression at point 65can be measured using modeling techniques for this torso, as well asother torsos.

Table 1 below shows the values of the depth of the gluteal depressionfor three representative wearer torsos as the distance from thewaistline 21 increases. For example, the “Step 2 Girl” is the wearer'storso as illustrated in FIGS. 5-7 and shown in profiles 8A-8D anddiscussed above. The “Step 4 Girl” is of a 5^(th) percentile for thestep 4 size diaper, approximately 23.5 pounds. The “Step 4 Boy” is of a75^(th) percentile for the step 4 size diaper, approximately 34.4pounds. Referring to Table 1 below, a negative value for the glutealdepression means that the profile including point 65 where the bisectionline 63 intersects the small of the back region 67 is convex, such asdiscussed above and illustrated in FIG. 8A. Positive values for glutealdepression means that the profile including point 65 where the bisectionline 63 intersects the small of the back region 67 is concave, such asdiscussed above and illustrated in FIGS. 8C and 8D.

TABLE 1 Distance from Depth of Gluteal Depression (mm) diaper line Step2 Step 4 Step 4 (mm) Girl Girl Boy 0 −0.16 −0.87 −3.31 5 −0.62 −1.56−3.38 10 −0.52 −1.43 −3.31 15 −0.08 −2.28 −2.59 20 −0.25 −1.75 −2.08 25−0.26 −1.65 −0.48 30 0.10 −1.60 1.14 35 0.20 −1.21 2.79 40 0.02 −0.715.18 45 0.33 0.76 7.17 50 0.54 2.68 8.35 55 1.17 5.89 9.60 60 2.49 6.9510.17 65 3.04 8.35 10.33 70 3.41 9.05 10.24 75 3.37 9.34 9.55 80 3.6610.06 9.55

FIG. 9 provides a graphical illustration for the depth of the glutealdepression values from Table 1. As illustrated in FIG. 9, it is apparentthat for at least the representative samples analyzed for Step 2 Girl,Step 4 Girl, and Step 4 Boy, the depth of the gluteal depressionincreases at a greater rate once the distance from the diaper linereaches about 30.0 mm to about 50.0 mm below the waistline 21. Based onthis anthropometric analysis, in some embodiments it can be preferableto have the proximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 andthe included proximal portion elastic member 86 a closer to rear waistedge 24 when the waist containment member is located in the rear waistregion 14 and/or closer to the front waist edge 22 when a waistcontainment member 54 is located in the front waist region 12. In thisregard, the first fold 79 a can be positioned such that it is less than40 millimeters (mm) from the respective rear waist edge 24 and/or frontwaist edge 22 depending on whether one or two waist containment members54 are being used and whether they are in the front and/or rear waistregions 12, 14. More preferably, the first fold 79 a can be positionedsuch that it is less than 15 millimeters mm from the respective rearwaist edge 24 and/or front waist edge 22 depending on whether one or twowaist containment members 54 are being used and whether they are in thefront and/or rear waist regions 12, 14. Even more preferably, the firstfold 79 a can be positioned such that it is less than 1 mm from or atthe respective rear waist edge 24 and/or front waist edge 22 dependingon whether one or two waist containment members 54 are being used andwhether they are in the front and/or rear waist regions 12, 14.

The location and functionality of the first fold 79 a and thus theproximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 can be furtherenhance when the distal edge 108 of the distal portion 78 is from about60 to about 40 mm from the rear waist edge 24 of the absorbent article10, especially for absorbent articles 10 that are configured as diapersand intended to be worn by young children. More preferably, the distaledge 108 of the distal portion 78 is from about 55 to about 45 mm fromthe rear waist edge 24 of the absorbent article 10. This same spacingcan be used when the waist containment member 54 is located in the frontwaist region 12 of the absorbent article 10. Configuring the waistcontainment member 54 in such a fashion can provide better contact ofthe first surface 102 of the waist containment member 54 with the smallof the back of the wearer as well as the distal edge 108 of the distalportion 78 of the waist containment member 54 against the wearer's skinalong the entire width 51 of the waist containment member 54 and thus,reduce the possibility of body exudates escaping from the absorbentarticle 10, 310. Of course, it is contemplated that the distal edge 108of the distal portion 78 can be more than about 60 mm from the rearwaist edge 24 of the absorbent article 10 and still be within the scopeof this disclosure. It can also be appreciated that a wearer's profilein the back region can vary from individual to individual, as well asfrom different age classes of individuals. For purposes herein, themeasurement of the distal edge 108 of the distal portion 78 of the waistcontainment member 54 to the rear waist edge 24 of the absorbent article10, 310 is to be measured when the absorbent article 10, 310 is in thestretched, laid-flat configuration.

The waist containment material 101 used to form the waist containmentmember 54 can be comprised of a variety of materials. In a preferredembodiment, the waist containment material 101 forming the waistcontainment member 54 can be comprised of a spunbond-meltblown-spunbond(“SMS”) material. However it is contemplated that the waist containmentmaterial 101 and thus the waist containment member 54 can be comprisedof other materials including, but not limited to, aspunbond-film-spunbond (“SFS”), a bonded carded web (“BCW”), or anynon-woven material. In some embodiments, the waist containment member 54can be comprised of a laminate of more than one of these exemplarymaterials, or other materials. In some embodiments, the waistcontainment member 54 can be comprised of a liquid impermeable materialsuch as a film or a film/nonwoven laminate. In some embodiments the filmmay be breathable such as a microporous film or a film that has beenapertured. In some embodiments, the waist containment member 54 can becomprised of a material coated with a hydrophobic coating. The basisweight of the material forming the waist containment member 54 can vary,however, in a preferred embodiment, the basis weight can be betweenabout 8 gsm to about 120 gsm, not including the elastic members 86 inthe waist containment member 54. More preferably, the basis weight ofthe material comprising the waist containment member 54 can be betweenabout 10 gsm to about 40 gsm, and even more preferably, between about 15gsm to about 25 gsm.

The relative spacing of the components of the absorbent article 10, 310can be configured in a number of ways to achieve the desired attributesof the present invention. In an embodiment, the first fold 79 a of thewaist containment member 54 can be closer than the proximal portionelastic member 86 a of the same waist containment member 54 to therespective front waist edge 22 or the rear waist edge 24 to which theproximal portion 76 of the waist containment member 54 is more closelycoupled when the absorbent article 10, 310 is in a stretched, laid flatconfiguration. In an embodiment, the distal edge 108 of the distalportion 78 of the waist containment member 54 can be closer to thelateral axis 31 and the crotch region 16 than the first fold 79 a of theproximal portion 76 when the absorbent article 10, 310 is in astretched, laid flat configuration. In an embodiment, the proximalportion elastic member 86 a in the proximal portion 76 of the waistcontainment member 54 can be located closer to the lateral axis 31 andthe crotch region 16 than the first fold 79 a when the absorbent article10, 310 is in a stretched, laid flat configuration. In an embodiment,the proximal edge 106 of the proximal portion 76 of the waistcontainment member 54 is closer to the lateral axis 31 and the crotchregion 16 than the first fold 79 a when the absorbent article 10, 310 isin a stretched, laid flat configuration. In an embodiment, the secondfold 79 b of the distal portion 78 of the waist containment member 54 iscloser to the lateral axis 31 and the crotch region 16 than the distalportion elastic member 86 b in the distal portion 78 when the absorbentarticle 10, 310 is in a stretched, laid flat configuration.

Fastening System:

In an embodiment, the absorbent article 10, can include a fasteningsystem. The fastening system can include one or more back fasteners 91and one or more front fasteners 92. The embodiments being shown in FIGS.1 and 2 depict embodiments with one front fastener 92. Portions of thefastening system may be included in the front waist region 12, rearwaist region 14, or both.

The fastening system can be configured to secure the absorbent article10 about the waist of the wearer in a fastened condition as shown inFIG. 1 and help maintain the absorbent article 10 in place during use.In an embodiment, the back fasteners 91 can include one or morematerials bonded together to form a composite ear as is known in theart. For example, the composite fastener may be composed of a stretchcomponent 94, a nonwoven carrier or hook base 96, and a fasteningcomponent 98, as labeled in FIG. 2. In some embodiments the waistcontainment member 54 can laterally extend to the back fasteners 91,and/or to each of the longitudinal side edges 18, 20 of the absorbentarticle 10, 310. In some embodiments, the waist containment member 54can be coupled to the stretch component 94 of the back fasteners 91,either directly or indirectly.

EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1

-   -   An absorbent article including a front waist region including a        front waist edge, a rear waist region including a rear waist        edge, a crotch region disposed intermediate the front waist edge        and the rear waist edge, the absorbent article defining a        longitudinal axis, a lateral axis located midway between the        front waist edge and the rear waist edge and a vertical axis,        the absorbent article comprising:    -   a chassis including an absorbent body, the chassis including a        body facing surface; and    -   a waist containment member disposed on the body facing surface        of the chassis, the waist containment member comprising:    -   a waist containment material having a first longitudinal side        edge and a second longitudinal side edge, a first end edge and a        second end edge;    -   the waist containment member having a proximal portion with a        proximal edge and including a proximal portion elastic member,        the proximal portion being coupled to the body facing surface of        the chassis adjacent the front waist edge or the rear waist        edge; and    -   the waist containment member having a distal portion with a        distal edge;    -   the waist containment material having a first fold extending in        the direction of the lateral axis, the first fold being closer        than the proximal portion elastic member to the respective front        waist edge or rear waist edge to which the proximal portion is        more closely coupled when the absorbent article is in a        stretched, laid flat configuration;    -   the distal edge being closer to lateral axis than the first fold        and the distal portion being free to move with respect to the        chassis when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration        so as to form a pocket with the chassis.

Embodiment 2

-   -   The absorbent article of embodiment 1 wherein the distal portion        includes a distal portion elastic member located in the distal        portion.

Embodiment 3

-   -   The absorbent article of embodiment 2 wherein the proximal        portion elastic member in the proximal portion comprises a        plurality or elastic strands.

Embodiment 4

-   -   The absorbent article of embodiment 3 wherein the distal portion        elastic member in the distal portion comprises a plurality of        elastic strands.

Embodiment 5

-   -   The absorbent article of embodiment 4 wherein there is a lesser        number of the elastic strands in the proximal portion than the        elastic strands in the distal portion.

Embodiment 6

-   -   The absorbent article of embodiment 1 wherein the waist        containment material has a first surface and a second surface,        and the first surface is coupled to the chassis.

Embodiment 7

-   -   The absorbent article of embodiment 6 wherein the proximal        portion elastic member in the proximal portion is located        between the first surface and the chassis and the proximal        portion elastic member in the proximal portion is closer to the        lateral axis than is the first fold when the absorbent article        is in a stretched, laid flat configuration.

Embodiment 8

-   -   The absorbent article of embodiment 6 wherein the proximal        portion elastic member in the proximal portion is attached to        the second surface of the waist containment material and the        proximal portion elastic member in the proximal portion is        closer to the lateral axis than is the first fold when the        absorbent article is in a stretched, laid flat configuration.

Embodiment 9

-   -   The absorbent article of embodiment 7 wherein the proximal edge        is closer to the lateral axis than is the first fold when the        absorbent article is in a stretched, laid flat configuration.

Embodiment 10

-   -   The absorbent article of embodiment 8 wherein the proximal edge        is closer to the lateral axis than is the first fold when the        absorbent article is in a stretched, laid flat configuration.

Embodiment 11

-   -   The absorbent article of embodiment 1 wherein the waist        containment material has a second fold extending in the        direction of the lateral axis, the second fold being located in        the distal portion.

Embodiment 12

-   -   The absorbent article of embodiment 11 wherein the waist        containment material has a first surface and a second surface,        and the first surface is coupled to the chassis, and wherein a        distal portion elastic member is located in the distal portion        and is attached to the second surface of the containment        material and the second fold is closer to the lateral axis than        is the distal portion elastic member in the distal portion when        the absorbent article is in a stretched, laid flat        configuration.

Embodiment 13

-   -   The absorbent article of embodiment 12 wherein the chassis        further comprises a bodyside liner and an outer cover, the        bodyside liner having a body facing surface, the absorbent body        being disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover        and wherein the proximal portion of the waist containment member        is coupled to the body facing surface of the bodyside liner.

Embodiment 14

-   -   The absorbent article of embodiment 13 wherein the distal        portion elastic member located in the distal portion extends at        least 70 percent of a distance from the first longitudinal side        edge to the second longitudinal side edge of the waist        containment member when the absorbent article is in a stretched,        laid flat configuration.

Embodiment 15

-   -   The absorbent article of embodiment 14 wherein the proximal        portion elastic member located in the proximal portion extends        at least 70 percent of a distance from the first longitudinal        side edge to the second longitudinal side edge of the waist        containment member when the absorbent article is in a stretched,        laid flat configuration.

Embodiment 16

-   -   The absorbent article of embodiment 11 wherein the waist        containment material has a third fold in the proximal portion        whereby a portion of the waist containment material between the        third fold and the first end edge is located in the direction of        the vertical axis above at least a portion of the proximal        portion elastic member in the proximal portion of the waist        containment member when the absorbent article is in a stretched,        laid flat configuration.

Embodiment 17

-   -   The absorbent article of embodiment 16 wherein the third fold        forms the proximal edge of the containment member.

Embodiment 18

-   -   An absorbent article including a front waist region including a        front waist edge, a rear waist region including a rear waist        edge, a crotch region disposed intermediate the front waist edge        and the rear waist edge, the absorbent article defining a        longitudinal axis, a lateral axis located midway between the        front waist edge and the rear waist edge and a vertical axis,        the absorbent article comprising:    -   a chassis including an absorbent body, the chassis including a        body facing surface; and    -   a waist containment member disposed on the body facing surface        of the chassis, the waist containment member having a first        longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge, a        first end edge and a second end edge;    -   the waist containment member having a proximal portion with a        proximal edge defining a proximal portion lateral width between        the first longitudinal side edge and the second longitudinal        side edge in the proximal portion, the waist containment member        including a proximal portion elastic member, the proximal        portion being coupled to the body facing surface of the chassis        adjacent the front waist edge or the rear waist edge; and    -   the waist containment member having a distal portion with a        distal edge defining a distal portion lateral width between the        first longitudinal side edge and the second longitudinal side        edge in the distal portion; the proximal portion lateral width        being equal to or greater than the distal portion lateral width        when the absorbent article is in a stretched, laid flat        configuration;    -   the distal edge being free to move with respect to the chassis        when the absorbent article is in a relaxed configuration so as        to form a pocket with the chassis.

Embodiment 19

-   -   The absorbent article of embodiment 18 wherein the waist        containment member has a first fold extending in the direction        of the lateral axis, the first fold being closer than the        proximal portion elastic member to the respective front waist        edge or rear waist edge to which the proximal portion is more        closely coupled when the absorbent article is in a stretched,        laid flat configuration;    -   the distal edge being closer to the lateral axis than the first        fold.

Embodiment 20

-   -   The absorbent article of embodiment 19 wherein the distal        portion includes a distal portion elastic member located in the        distal portion.

All documents cited in the Detailed Description are, in relevant part,incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not tobe construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to thepresent invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of aterm in this written document conflicts with any meaning or definitionof the term in a document incorporated by references, the meaning ordefinition assigned to the term in this written document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in theart that various other changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is thereforeintended to cover in the appended claims all such changes andmodifications that are within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An absorbent article including a front waistregion including a front waist edge, a rear waist region including arear waist edge, a crotch region disposed intermediate the front waistedge and the rear waist edge, the absorbent article defining alongitudinal axis, a lateral axis located midway between the front waistedge and the rear waist edge, and a vertical axis perpendicular to boththe longitudinal axis and the lateral axis, the absorbent articlecomprising: a chassis including a body facing surface and a garmentfacing surface, and an absorbent body disposed between the body facingsurface and the garment facing surface; and a first containment flapextending between the front waist region and the rear waist region and asecond containment flap extending between the front waist region and therear waist region, each of the first containment flap and the secondcontainment flap comprising a base portion coupled to the body facingsurface and a projection portion configured to extend away from the bodyfacing surface; a waist containment member disposed on the body facingsurface of the chassis, the waist containment member comprising: a waistcontainment material having a first longitudinal side edge and a secondlongitudinal side edge, a first end edge and a second end edge; thewaist containment member having a proximal portion with a proximal edgeand including a proximal portion elastic member, the proximal portion ofthe waist containment member disposed on top of the projection portionsand at least part of the base portions of the first containment flap andthe second containment flap such that the projection portions and the atleast part of the base portions are disposed between the proximalportion of the waist containment member and the chassis body facingsurface, the proximal portion of the waist containment member furtherbeing coupled to the body facing surface of the chassis, the projectionportions, and the at least part of the base portions of the firstcontainment flap and the second containment flap adjacent the frontwaist edge or the rear waist edge; and the waist containment memberhaving a distal portion with a distal edge; the waist containmentmaterial having a first fold extending in the direction of the lateralaxis, the first fold being closer than the proximal portion elasticmember to the respective front waist edge or rear waist edge to whichthe proximal portion is more closely coupled when the absorbent articleis in a stretched, laid flat configuration; the distal edge being closerto the lateral axis than the first fold and the distal portion beingfree to move with respect to the chassis when the absorbent article isin a relaxed configuration so as to form a pocket with the chassis. 2.The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the distal portion includes adistal portion elastic member located in the distal portion.
 3. Theabsorbent article of claim 2 wherein the proximal portion elastic memberin the proximal portion comprises a plurality of elastic strands.
 4. Theabsorbent article of claim 3 wherein the distal portion elastic memberin the distal portion comprises a plurality of elastic strands.
 5. Theabsorbent article of claim 4 wherein there is a lesser number of theelastic strands in the proximal portion than the elastic strands in thedistal portion.
 6. The absorbent article of claim 1 wherein the waistcontainment material has a first surface and a second surface, and thefirst surface is coupled to the chassis.
 7. The absorbent article ofclaim 6 wherein the proximal portion elastic member in the proximalportion is located between the first surface and the chassis and theproximal portion elastic member in the proximal portion is closer to thelateral axis than is the first fold when the absorbent article is in astretched, laid flat configuration.
 8. The absorbent article of claim 6wherein the proximal portion elastic member in the proximal portion isattached to the second surface of the waist containment material and theproximal portion elastic member in the proximal portion is closer to thelateral axis than is the first fold when the absorbent article is in astretched, laid flat configuration.
 9. The absorbent article of claim 7wherein the proximal edge is closer to the lateral axis than is thefirst fold when the absorbent article is in a stretched, laid flatconfiguration.
 10. The absorbent article of claim 8 wherein the proximaledge is closer to the lateral axis than is the first fold when theabsorbent article is in a stretched, laid flat configuration.
 11. Theabsorbent article of claim 1 wherein the waist containment material hasa second fold extending in the direction of the lateral axis, the secondfold being located in the distal portion.
 12. The absorbent article ofclaim 11 wherein the waist containment material has a first surface anda second surface, and the first surface is coupled to the chassis, andwherein a distal portion elastic member is located in the distal portionand is attached to the second surface of the containment material andthe second fold is closer to the lateral axis than is the distal portionelastic member in the distal portion when the absorbent article is in astretched, laid flat configuration.
 13. The absorbent article of claim12 wherein the chassis further comprises a bodyside liner and an outercover, the bodyside liner having a body facing surface, the absorbentbody being disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover andwherein the proximal portion of the waist containment member is coupledto the body facing surface of the bodyside liner.
 14. The absorbentarticle of claim 13 wherein the distal portion elastic member located inthe distal portion extends at least 70 percent of a distance from thefirst longitudinal side edge to the second longitudinal side edge of thewaist containment member when the absorbent article is in a stretched,laid flat configuration.
 15. The absorbent article of claim 14 whereinthe proximal portion elastic member located in the proximal portionextends at least 70 percent of a distance from the first longitudinalside edge to the second longitudinal side edge of the waist containmentmember when the absorbent article is in a stretched, laid flatconfiguration.
 16. The absorbent article of claim 11 wherein the waistcontainment material has a third fold in the proximal portion whereby aportion of the waist containment material between the third fold and thefirst end edge is located in the direction of the vertical axis above atleast a portion of the proximal portion elastic member in the proximalportion of the waist containment member when the absorbent article is ina stretched, laid flat configuration.
 17. The absorbent article of claim16 wherein the third fold forms the proximal edge of the containmentmember.